By Zephyria 
…That was his calculation, so how did it end up like this?
He was frustrated, but soon changed his mind and recalled the disappointment he felt when he first saw Nathaniel.
Think positively—now you don’t have to have any more children.
It was bound to happen anyway. And who knows, this time you might even get two children who look like Koi at once.
Yes, the world probably isn’t that much of a garbage dump.
Ashley forcibly gathered the dust-like fragments of hope within his pessimistic nature. At least he had Koi. There were twists and turns, but as long as the result is good, everything is good. Surely that can’t be the end of all my luck, can it?
“I can’t wait to see the baby’s face.”
At Koi’s happy words, Ashley silently smiled. Thinking differently, it actually turned out well. Nathaniel is still young, and having two more newborns would be utterly chaotic. Isn’t it a perfect excuse to naturally separate Koi from the children?
It’s also better for fostering the children’s independence.
Ashley had never once been held by the omega who gave birth to him. It was only natural, since even seeing his face wasn’t easily permitted. Dominic was even less interested in him.
Nevertheless, Ashley thought his life was quite decent. After all, he had Koi. So, there was no need to pour excessive attention into the children. Just giving them what they needed and managing them was enough.
If they looked like Koi……
Then of course he would love them. He might even feed them milk himself and kiss them often. He might even read them fairy tales before bed. Of course, he would never allow them to sleep with Koi. No matter how much they resembled Koi, the only one who could hold him and sleep together was Ashley.
Koi said he wished there were more Ashleys in the world, but Ashley thought differently. He wished the entire earth were covered with Koi. Just imagining it felt so good. And until the children were born, he often waited while happily imagining—holding two children who looked like Koi, one in each arm.
That was a definite comfort to him. It even felt like a glimmer of hope in this wretched situation.
Yes, the next child will definitely look like Koi. That would be somewhat fair.
Ashley still refused to admit it. That this world is far too unfair.
And that in some ways, he was terribly unlucky.
And the moment he held the newborn baby in his arms, Ashley Miller saw it. Purple eyes just like his own. Moreover, an unbelievable scent emanated from the baby’s body, which couldn’t even properly move its limbs yet. An indescribably sweet scent. It was the scent of Pheromones.
“Ash?”
At the sudden voice calling him, Ashley snapped back to reality. Koi was lying on the bed, looking up at him with an anxious face. He clearly thought Ashley’s expression was unusual. For a moment, he looked down at Koi without a word. After feeling as though countless thoughts had crossed his mind in that short time, Ashley slowly opened his mouth.
“What do I do, they look like me again.”
He could only laugh at the absurdity. Looking up at Ashley like that, Koi soon broke into a bright smile.
“That’s great, isn’t it? Show me quickly, I want to see.”
He placed the baby beside Koi, who was urging him to hurry. Seeing the children for the first time after waking from surgery, Koi felt his heart swell and carefully stroked their cheeks with trembling hands.
“Huh?”
Soon after, Koi let out a surprised sound, blinking his eyes as he looked up at Ashley. Was he surprised that the baby had already opened its eyes, or that its eyes were purple? Maybe both.
“I told you, they look like me again.”
“Oh my!”
Koi looked back and forth between the two children, moved. The daughter had her eyes closed, perhaps asleep, so he couldn’t confirm, but Ashley readily solved his curiosity.
“Both have purple eyes. You can’t smell it, so you wouldn’t know, but they definitely have the Pheromone scent too.”
“Oh my, there are four Ashes now! Amazing!”
Koi let out the same exclamation as before. Watching him look at the children, overjoyed and not knowing what to do, Ashley said nothing. And around the time Koi was discharged from the hospital with the babies, Ashley learned another thunderbolt-like fact. That Nathaniel had presented.
Misfortune never comes alone.
The old adage circled in Ashley’s mind, and he remained silent for a long time.
Made in Heaven…… or Hell
“Don’t you think we can start thinking about having a third child now?”
When they had finally finished dinner with the children, brought Koi back to the room, and were alone together, he suddenly brought up an unexpected topic. Naturally, Ashley, who was about to hold Koi’s waist and kiss him, stopped his movement right in front of his face and spoke.
“A third child? What are you talking about?”
At the whispered words from such close proximity that their breaths mingled, Koi answered brightly.
“We promised, remember? To have three children.”
Ashley raised his head and smiled.
“We already have three, Koi.”
He pointed out calmly with a generous expression.
“You seem to have forgotten since it was already three years ago, but you gave birth to two at once. Grayson and Stacy. Before that, you gave birth to Nathaniel. So we have three children.”
“No, that’s wrong.”
Koi answered with a serious expression.
“I was pregnant twice. So I have one more chance.”
“……Koi, don’t play word games.”
The smile disappeared from Ashley’s face. Even though he knew Koi was serious, he tried to deny it until the end.
“I’m serious, Ash.”
Koi continued with a serious expression.
“You said you wanted a child who looks like me too. So let’s have just one more, okay?”
Of course, that was out of the question. Ashley flipped his words right back to refute him.
“Didn’t you say you wanted a child who looks like me? We already have three who look like me. So we don’t need any more.”
“But.”
“Koi.”
Ashley suppressed the urge to grit his teeth and declared as calmly as possible.
“Three is enough, more than enough.”
“But I’m the one giving birth, and I’m the one who suffers during pregnancy.”
Koi made a final protest, but of course, it didn’t work. This time, Ashley did grit his teeth.
“Yes, and I’m the one who has to watch and can’t do anything about it. I hate that.”
At the words spat out as if chewing between clenched teeth, Koi shrank back. Seeing his frightened face, Ashley softened his tone somewhat.
“Give it up, Koi. I don’t want any more children.”
It’s not that he dislikes children unconditionally. After all, they are his and Koi’s children, and he does care for them to some extent. He’ll do anything the children need. Give them appropriate affection too.
So three is enough.
“Your answer? Koi.”
Ashley urged in a cool voice. At his clear refusal, even Koi couldn’t persist any further.
“……Okay.”
“And?”
Usually, it ended here, but this time it didn’t. It was tantamount to saying he was that angry, so Koi, deflated, mumbled.
“I’m sorry, Ash.”
“For what?”
“……For saying something unnecessary.”
He thought it was wrong to try to persuade him with inappropriate wordplay, but he didn’t say that much. This much reflection was probably enough. Seeing Koi’s completely dejected face, Ashley felt his heart soften even as he thought himself beyond saving.
“Three is enough, Koi. So let’s focus on the children we have now, okay?”
“……Yeah.”
When asked in a gentle voice, unlike before, Koi nodded slightly.
“Okay.”
After extracting the reluctant answer, Ashley immediately kissed Koi’s lips.
“Koi, there’s one thing I’m more curious about, though.”
“Huh? What is it?”
When he asked without much thought, Ashley kissed him once more, smack, then pressed their foreheads together and asked.
“Why aren’t you wearing the clothes I gave you?”
At those words, the body in his embrace jumped up in surprise.
“Th-that, that’s, that’s.”
Koi flustered, his eyes darting around. Seeing his reaction, Ashley spoke with a gloomy face.